Alvin "Sonny" Claire

Born July 18, 1936, Sonny is a son of the late Alvin and Vera Bradley-Claire. He was raised and educated in Morris and, on Sept. 2, 1956, Sonny married Dorothy Fitzmaurice in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kinsman.

He worked for Caterpillar Tractor Company in Joliet for more than 40 years, and retired in 1993 as a programmer. Sonny was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Morris. In his free time, Sonny enjoyed reading, fishing, bird watching, cars, vacationing and traveling.

He cherished his grandchildren, and will be remembered for attending many of his kids', grandkids' and great-grandkids' sports and school activities.

Survivors include his loving wife of 56 years, Dorothy; four children, Paul (Kathi) Claire, Paula (Jeff) Johnson, Phillip (Jayne) Claire, and Phyllis (Tom) Delaney, all of Morris; eight grandchildren, Angela (Brett) Simon and Heather Foster, both of Morris, Branden (Katie) Johnson of Morton, Ill., Elizabeth Barrett of Georgia, Grant Claire of Tennessee, and Rochelle Claire, Leslie Claire and Craig Claire, all of Morris; two great-grandchildren, Isabella Simon and Jackson Simon; his sister, Nora “Bunny” (the late Pat) Haney of Burlington, Iowa; one aunt, Velva Carroll of Morris; brothers- and sisters-in-law Fern (the late James) Kahley of Effingham, Ill., Gary (Madeline) Fitzmaurice of Morris, Betty Anne (Herman) Stricklen of Missouri, and Debbie (the late Russell) Fitzmaurice of Ottawa, Ill., as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Vera Claire, and his father- and mother-in-law, Paul and Ruth Fitzmaurice.

Visitation will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 600 East Jackson St., Morris, from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. Funeral services will follow at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, in the church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with the Rev. Ed Howe, CR, officiating.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Sonny's memory to the Immaculate Conception Building Fund, 516 East Jackson Street, Morris, Ill., 60450, or to the Immaculate Conception School Endowment Fund, 505 East North Street, Morris, Ill., 60450.

Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences to the family by logging onto www.ReevesFuneral.com.

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Reeves Funeral Homes Ltd. in Morris. For additional information, call (815) 942-2500.